781Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 28 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I this Day Recd. yours the 22end, Which Was very Exceptable. I Wrote you Last Week Concerning the Dispossial of Our prisoners Which Was Dischargd By possitiv order from The Intendant of this port Last Satd. the 22end. I Allso mentioned In my Last of the 26th, the Difficulties of Geting Liberty to Stay in This port to heav Down and Repair my Ship Which Was...
782The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 9 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress; Yale University Library Captain Hammond having been detained longer than we expected, furnishes us with an opportunity of giving you the information we have since our last received from the Army, thro a Committee of Congress left at Philadelphia; for we have yet had no regular accounts from General Washington. On the 2d....
783Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 14 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library My last informed you of the Steps I had taken in Consequence of the orders you have been pleased to honour me with since which Mr. Ross has returned from Bordeaux. Agreeable to your Directions I have consulted With him and told him what I had done which he does me the honor to approve; but as it appears to him that Mr. Morriss’s instructions are...
784Henry Johnson to the American Commissioners, 16 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Public Record Office Your agreeable favours of the 9th Inst. was handed me by Capt. Bell with the different packets and letters to morrow morning shall sail God willing. I forward by Capt. Bell my accounts I find a Ballance. I find in favour of the Congress which I shall give Credit if I find no Errors. If any shall settle the same with the Agent in America. As everything has gone...
785Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 19 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I went to Painbeuf on Sunday and returned hither last Evening. Mr. Peltier and myself went on board the Count de Vergennes and gave the necessary Directions. As I consider Dispatch of the utmost Consequence, I desired that as many Workmen as could be procured should be immediately employed. These are at present Scearce, but as a little more expence is no...
786Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 17 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Yale University Library The two last days have been employed in going to Painbeuf (about 30 miles hence) examining the Mercury, and returning to Nantes. I have the pleasure to inform you that what I have hitherto seen is very satisfactory, the Mercury appears to be a very good Ship, 7 Years old, burden 300 Tons (Mr. Peltrier thinks 350,)...
787The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 31 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: National Archives We have the pleasure to enclose to you the Capitulation by which Genl. Burgoyne and his whole army surrendered themselves prisoners of War. This great event might have still been greater had not the operations on Hudson’s river below Albany rendered it apprehensible that Sir Harry Clinton might come to the relief of Genl. Burgoyne as he had urged his way up to...
788Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 18 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library In your instructions to me you mention another Vessell which Mr. Beaumarchais proposes to send to America with Stores, but I can gain no Information of any such Vessell, Mr. Peltrier tells me he knows nothing about it. There is indeed a Ship (the St. Dominique) which Mr. Peltrier bought at the same time that he bought the mercury, and which he is to load on...
789Edward Bancroft to the American Commissioners, 3 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Bancroft was beginning to find a spy’s life hard on the nerves. In July, worried because the British kept the originals of some letters he had stolen, he made new financial demands on them. By the beginning of August he was urging Wentworth to look after his interests, “which, till lately, he never shewed much anxiety about, and indeed seemed to be quite...
790Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 22 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should be very glad to know my future destination and how I am to Act in regard to the proceedings of the Admiralty Officers at this port. If I am not dispatched Soon think it Will be Necessary to hawl the Ship on Shore again and Clean her as She is very Dirty and will not Sail without being Clean. I am informed Capt. Green of Philadelphia is Now at...
791Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 28 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will inform you of Capt. Wickes and self being safe arrived at this port. Capt. Johnson I beleave is still out. On Thursday the 26th. Inst. off Ushant we fell in with an English 74 Gun ship who gave us Chase which Obliged us to bare away and run up this Channell. He was to windward of us and the wind at S.W. Soon after the Chase began Capt. Wickes made...
792Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 24 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your favour of the 19th. Instant which in some Measure has given me releaf in respect to Complying with orders from the Minester at Paris, which will be Strictly attended to, on my part, but am very Sorry our Necessities obliges us to Submit to our present hard Fate. However hope you will Contrive to get me away as soon as possible, as I Can...
793Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have recvd. a Letter from Capt. Thompson Commander of the Rawleigh Frigate by which I find the prizes made by the two Ships consisted of 750 hhds. Sugar 325 Puncheons Rum 70 Plank Mahogany 15 Casks of Coffee and the two Ships which Capt. Nicholson tells me are 500 and 800 Tons Burden. This Property was sold for 9700 Sterling, which I take to be about ⅓ of the...
794Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 22 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the honor of your Favours by Messrs. Portail &c. There is no opportunity for them to embark exceept via St. Domingo, unless the packet Boat should be sent. I say nothing to them of the Count de Vergennes as you do not express an Intention that they should go in her. They do not seem to like to go in a Ship under american Colours least they should be...
795Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas to the American Commissioners, 18 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook summary: Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague J’ajouterai à l’incluse pour Mr. G——— Grd. (que je laisse ouverte, pour que vous la lisiez aussi), quelques anecdotes, qui pourront plus ou moins vous servir. On m’a assuré qu’il se forme en Zélande (l’une de ces Provinces), une Compagnie de Marchands pour négocier directement avec le Continent de l’Am....
796The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 1 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: National Archives This will be delivered to you by Colo. Ewing of Baltimore in Maryland, who goes to France on affairs of commerce, and whom we recommend to your civilities as a Gentleman of worth, who has in arms contended for the liberty of America. We are &ca. Signed All the indications are that the Colonel carried the committee’s important dispatch of the day before, and that...
797Thomas Morris to the American Commissioners, 11 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have duely received your esteemed favours of the 2d and 3d Instant the Contents of which requiring no immediate answer, the present may serve to acquaint you with the safe arrival here of the Schooner Jenifer in 35 days from Baltimore. This Vessell has brought sundry dispatches for you from Congress, and the Bearer Captain Hammond will have the pleasure...
798Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 28 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I have the pleasure to inform you of the happy return of the Mercury in 23 Days. As there are no public dispatches from Congress nor the appearance of any important action, and as the post goes out as soon as I could send a Courier, I think it best to save that Expence: the amphitrite arrived safe in portsmouth,...
799The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 6[–9] October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, Maine Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) Since ours to you by return of the Packet from New Hamshire and duplicates by Mr. McCreary from Maryland, we have not written, nor have we received any of your favors during the last two months, except a letter of old date (Apr. 29th) signed by Mr. Deane and Doctr. Lee. Capt....
800Vergennes: Memorandum for the American Commissioners, [between 1 and 12 March 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Benjamin F. Stevens, ed., Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European Archives Relating to America, 1773–1783 (25 vols., London, 1889–98), XV , no. 1451. 1) On ne peut prendre connoissance des Operations de Commerce que des particuliers peuvent faire. On ne gêne personne à cet egard, lorsqu’on s’est renfermé dans les bornes de la Circonspection. Mais il n’est pas possible de...
801Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 16 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: American Philosophical Society, Archivo General de Simancas, British Library, Harvard University Library, Library of Congress, National Archives (two), South Carolina Historical Society This letter announced to the commissioners a shift in French policy toward Wickes’s ships. The government, in response to British...
802Montaudoüin to the American Commissioners, 28 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçû la lettre dont vous m’avéz honoré le 21 de ce mois. Je ne crois pas qu’aucun particulier veüille entreprendre d’acheter, d’armer pour son compte le batiment en question, et de le livrer a ses risques dans quelque port de vôtre pais. On ne trouveroit pas d’assurances solides pour une telle entreprise, et les particuliers sont imprudens quand il...
803Thomas Thompson to the American Commissioners, 20 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have the Honour to have now before me your Letters of the 13th: and 15th. Instant. In the first you desire I would write our situation; mine of the 10th. will satisfy you in that particular, therefore shall not say anything more on that head; in your first you advise us to Gurlard and Company and to send our Letters under Gurlard’s Cover. In your last you...
804William Lee to the American Commissioners, 6 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Virginia Historical Society The 4th. two little boats arrivd here from Virginia (private property) which they left the 4th. of Augt. They bring the Papers with the Congress account of the evacuation of Ticonderoga, which is inclos’d, with some other Papers which the passenger Mr. King will bring with him as he sets out for Paris on Sunday or Monday next. Mr. K. who seems to be an...
805John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 10 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having a small Sloop call’d the Mongomery Robt. Willis master, that I propose to send back to America Arm’d, not having a Commission for her which I apprehend lays in your power to grant, I take the Liberty to make application to you for One. I propose her to mount Six four pounders to carry thirty Men and otherways properly equipt. I am not determin’d if I...
806Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just Setting off for St. Mallo where Mr. Williams thinks I had better spend about 3 Weeks, in order to be out of the way and give time for our new ship to be built. I Shall have Capt. Tanner here to overlook as much as is needfull, or we dare appear in. He is an Experienced man in Ship building and A Compleat Draughts man. I shall send you the draught...
807Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 21 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When I wrote you last I mentioned, being Summond to Appear before the Intendant, in regard to the Destination of the Prisoners now on board my Ship. The Intendant, then Informed me that he should come on board in Company with the Captains of the different prizes and Examine all the English, Irish and Scotch Men that was on board my Ship and all those Chose...
808Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I yesterday drew on you two Drafts at one Days Date the first in favour of Messrs. Montaudouins for 1000 l.t. the second in favor of the Chevalier de la motte d’aubigné for 3000 l.t. 4000 l.t. which please to Honour. My Last informed you of the order I had given for 8 large anchors, as to the price these will cost I...
809William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 6 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society Herewith you will please to find Triplicate and Copy of my two last Letters to Mr. Deane; but as they are addressed to him in an official Capacity, I have thought proper to place them under your Notice, and shall in future do myself the honor of directing my Letters in the like manner, as I am informed by my last Dispatches from Congress, that you are...
810Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 30 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library My last by the Post informed you of the return of the Mercury and the summary of the News she brought. I now send you a number of papers which did not come to my hands ’till to day being brought by one of the Ships Officers. The Captain tells me that about the 10th or 12th of May Capt. manly with a Frigate of 36...